For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 30, 2004
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President welcomes the signings in New York of the Joint
Verification Mechanism (JVM) on September 22 and the Memorandum of
Intent (MOI) on Regional Security in the Great Lakes of Africa
September 23 by the Foreign Ministers of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, and the Defense Minister of Uganda.
The mandate for the JVM is to verify, investigate, and report on
allegations relating to security in the border regions of Rwanda and
the DRC. The MOI creates processes for the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda to
verify, investigate, and report on allegations concerning threats to
peace and security in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The United
States commends President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, President Kagame of Rwanda, and President Museveni of Uganda on
their efforts to establish a trilateral mechanism to foster cooperation
in the region.
The United States will continue to work with the Governments of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, as well as other
international partners, to support implementation of the commitments
assumed by the three Governments to help bring about a lasting peace
for the Great Lakes region.
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